PTSD and Marijuana
CANNABIS: A POTENTIAL EFFICACIOUS INTERVENTION FOR PTSD IN NORTH CAROLINA
Traumatic events or experiences can leave a terrible and long-lasting mark in people affected with Post-traumatic stress disorder. Many patients suffering from PTSD have traumatic events they cannot come to terms with and it prevents them from getting better without treatment. This is a debilitating condition as the individual keeps having flashbacks of such scary moments repeatedly and in a way that interferes with their day-to-day lifestyle. With time, most PTSD patients will overcome such experiences and move on with their lives, while few are stuck with this condition for the rest of their lives. The unlucky few will depend on various forms of remedies to treat the symptoms from this problem while hoping to one day find a more permanent solution.
In the management of post-traumatic stress disorder, the combination of both therapeutic medicines such as cannabis and psychotherapy has been scientifically proven to improve the quality of life for people with this condition. The majority of studies into PTSD have been on the possibility of finding a lasting solution to this neurological disorder. Evidence from recent studies has suggested that medical marijuana can help people with PTSD and alleviate the symptoms associated with the condition but with proper consideration and consultation with a marijuana doctor.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
PTSD is a neurological disorder that results from past hurtful experiences or traumatic events and is characterized by anxiety triggered by this event. The trigger may be a result of abuse as a child, violent attacks, road traffic accidents, combats, natural or man-made disasters. These shocking events keep playing in the patients head and may induce withdrawal from the environment, friends, and family, it can also cause emotional pain and difficulties for them and their loved ones. Other problems they may encounter include; nightmares, insomnia, memory problems, lack of concentration, and flashbacks.
Recent studies suggest that using marijuana can help patients that suffer from PTSD. The best way for PTSD patients to get marijuana treatment is be getting a state marijuana card which gives them access to state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries.
Three events are seen in PTSD cases; re-living of the traumatic events, increased arousal, and avoidance. In situations like this, the individual tries to self-isolate, which is believed to help him avoid the triggers of the horrible past. They tend to avoid places that would remind them of the event that took place. They are always on guard, which can cause a change in thinking and general mood.
Medical Marijuana and PTSD
Long before now, the cannabis plant has been used to reduce the frequency of treatment-resistant epilepsy and alleviate chronic pain. That was before the components of this plant were studied and discovered to be Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica plant, also known as marijuana is not a simple drug but contains more than 400 chemical substances with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) being the most popular and most studied ingredient of this plant. The two most important cannabinoid receptors in the human body are known as CB1 and CB2 receptors. THC interacts with the CB1 receptors which are thought to be responsible for almost all of the the psychoactive effects of THC. Being the most abundant receptor in the central nervous system, this is what allows it to exert its psychoactive effects on the brain. CB1 receptors are less abundant in the body and more abundant in the brain regions involved in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex. This describes the effects of THC on pain modulation, human behavior, sensory and perception, movement coordination, memory formation, appetite as well as abuse, and addictive potential.
Medical cannabis was praised to be effective in the management of a wide range of conditions which include; inflammatory bowel disease, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, menstrual cramps, AIDS, nausea, and cancer. Apart from these physical effects, cannabis has been shown to improve neurological and psychiatric conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety disorders, and depression. More attention has been diverted towards the inevitable use of medical marijuana in the treatment of PTSD. Knowing fully well that the treatment of PTSD is a hard one, every possible way of getting this neurological condition under control by using any treatment will always be entertained.
PTSD is attributed to neuronal malfunction found in the anterior cingulate cortex and hippocampus but with a reduced linkage between the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Low endogenous cannabinoids contribute to the hyperfunctioning of the amygdala and anxiety symptoms which is seen in PTSD. This in turn produces other debilitating symptoms of PTSD such as insomnia, memory and cognitive problems, increased pain sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. From this view, titration of the endogenous cannabinoids may as well be effective in the treatment of PTSD. Coupled with the PTSD symptom-reducing effect of medical cannabis, it also modulates inflammatory processes and may be useful in cases that promote inflammation in the brain.
Medical cannabis currently is the most used illegal medication used for varieties of conditions. With the beneficial effects of this natural medicine becoming evident, more states are adopting laws and legislation to legalize its use. PTSD on the other hand is a valid indication for the use of medical cannabis with its symptoms developing more and more resistance to conventional drugs. PTSD patients suffer from sleep disorders and a majority of them rely on medical marijuana to enable them to get adequate sleep. Medical marijuana has also been shown to have both anxiolytic properties though it is dependent on the cannabinoid. It has been seriously argued if medical cannabis offers a solution to anxiety disorder in PTSD or worsens the situation.
Concluding Remarks Regarding PTSD and Cannabis
In summary, cannabis is the most generally used illicit substance within the US. With a growing number of states seeking to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes, there's a desire for a stronger understanding regarding the mechanism of action and efficacy of cannabis for the conditions that it's prescribed.
This text sought to review the present literature regarding the utilization of cannabis for PTSD. To date, there's no large-scale, randomized, controlled study investigating the efficacy of marijuana and PTSD symptomatology; however, the literature that exists suggests that it's going to have an impression on decreasing PTSD symptoms, and also the neurobiological and animal studies seem to suggest potential underlying mechanisms according to these findings.
However, PTSD may be associated with problematic and pathological use of cannabis. There's a transparent need for more research trials and monitoring of the long-term effects of using cannabis for the treatment of PTSD and other medical conditions. Until then, given the limited evidence, physicians have to use their clinical judgment when weighing the potential risks and benefits of prescribing marijuana treatment for a specific patient.
North Carolina Marijuana Card for Treatment of PTSD
If the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act also known as Senate Bill 711 (SB 711) passes then as the bill sits in its current form it appears that post-traumatic stress disorder would qualify North Carolina residents for a North Carolina marijuana card.
Once a patient gets their North Carolina cannabis card they will be able to visit any state-licensed marijuana dispensary in North Carolina and possibly other states if North Carolina institutes a medical cannabis program.
Will NC Residents Have Legal Protection with a North Carolina Cannabis Card?
If the proposed bill SB 711 passes then it is likely that North Carolina residents that are registered with the state and have been issued a North Carolina marijuana card may have legal protection from arrest, penalty, and prosecution.
However, since the laws regarding medical cannabis in North Carolina have not been passed it is impossible to know what the final legislation will look like or if the cannabis legislation will pass at all.
How Can I Get a North Carolina Marijuana Card?
Currently North Carolina has not established a medical marijuana program. Keep checking our blog and pre-register for your appointment to get your North Carolina marijuana card and will will notify you as soon as legislation passes regarding medical marijuana.
If North Carolina establishes a cannabis program then we will immediately begin seeing patients, conducting medical marijuana evaluations, and issuing North Carolina cannabis certificates.
Once a cannabis program passes legislation in North Carolina a patient can take the cannabis certificate they received from our marijuana doctor and they will be able to submit the information to the state and receive a North Carolina marijuana card.
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